妻の一番綺麗な姿

The protagonist, Akifusa, and his beautiful wife, Shibano, lived in a certain village. The couple loved each other deeply, but for many years, they were unable to conceive. The cause was Akifusa's “seed.” Their days living together were happy, yet they also carried the loneliness of “withered hope.” One day, this couple took in Genta, an apprentice craftsman from another village, as a lodger. He was polite and handled chores around the house on his days off. Life with this simple-minded young man brought a fresh breeze to their quiet home. And then, the faint, yearning glances he began directing at Shibano—glances born of his young, robust physique— awakened within Akifusa a craving to see his wife desired and lost to another man.